The Origo Steering Wheel concept is designed to improve safety by reducing driver distraction with intuitive controls adapted from mobile device user experiences. It improves the way a driver accesses information, and controls non-driving functions, in the vehicle with intuitive thumb controls accessible with a safe hands-on-wheel driving position. Relevant information is presented in each situation, ensuring the driver can focus on the primary task: safe driving. The concept replaces multiple mechanical controls in different locations with novel, 3-dimensional touch sensors that are integrated in the steering wheel and easily operated by thumb, providing a natural, smartphone-like interaction.
Heliatek (Dresden, Germany) has won the 2020 OE-A competition in the category: “Best Publicly Funded Project Demonstrator”. The award honours an innovative integration solution for façades using Heliatek’s organic solar films. A record of more than 20 applications from international companies were submitted and the OE-A selected the organic solar pioneer as one of three winners. This year’s competition was digital due to the cancelation of the LOPEC trade fair, the host event where the winners are usually being awarded.
Organic and printed electronics has developed into a global market worth more than $35bn. While OLED displays currently play the biggest role, in the coming years strong growth is expected in other applications such as NFC/RFID, sensors, wearable electronics, and in the automotive and medical industry sectors. These trends are also reflected in the eighth edition of the Roadmap published by the OE-A (Organic and Printed Electronics Association), a working group within VDMA.
